RNemj

Is there any weight to the addiction specialist evaluation? Because mine determined I don't have SUD or need further monitoring, but he said they will likely give it to me anyways. Why are they not held to listen to the expert they mandated I pay thousands of dollars to see?

I think you had mentioned you received five year monitoring even without an sud.Diagnosis. can I ask how they justified this? I'm anxiously waiting to see it's what they offer, but I completed my comprehensive evaluation with no diagnoses and no recommendation for monitoring. My neurologist has also said, I'm low risk to return to work. But something tells me, haven is not going to give it up that easy.

Anyone still reading? I am trying to decide what to do for a positive drug test incident that occurred outside of work, but now they are saying I go to the ER too much so maybe I am not mentally stable. I have a verified seizure disorder. I've already been in the investigation going on 4 months - testing negative this whole time. Now doing a comprehensive evaluation next Friday. I'm thinking I will try to stick it out with HAVEN for privacy. It just doesn't make sense because I am not even cleared to practice by my neurologist currently. So why am I paying hundreds of dollars when I can't even use my license? IDK none of it makes sense.

It's been almost 10 years so I'm guessing you made it through HAVEN? Any advice for someone who is just getting sucked into this corruption?

Yeah, my hair follicle was indeed negative for marijuana because as I told them it was not something I chose to do frequently. I guess I'm a bit confused on the laws surrounding that living in a state where it's legal. Not really clear on how they can prevent someone from utilizing a legal drug outside of work, but seems like they can really do whatever they want. Sorry, I do have a ton of questions, particularly because they have given me very little direct information. Emails to my case manager are unanswered, unless they are calling me to just tell me more things I can or cannot do. Did you do a comprehensive evaluation? Are you back working? What was the length of time out of work? Are the group meetings really like 4 times a week - and is it for the entire 5 years? Can you apply for early release? As far as the paralegal, I have issues with her as she presented herself as the lawyer when she called to bully me after I contacted DPH. Telling me upfront how BON never sides with the person the allegations are made against. That right there told me all I needed to know because how can that be a general statement when things should be viewed on a case by case basis? I'm really happy for you that this has been a positive experience, maybe I just got the luck of the draw. But when people begin to use intimidation tactics, I get very invested in uncovering the reasons behind that.

I'm willing to give a chance to just see what the contract they suggest will be. I first have to find thousands of dollars for a comprehensive evaluation when I can't even work. If they throw 5 years with 4 meetings a week at me, I will definitely move on to a board hearing and then, if my lawyer agrees, try to get in front of a judge outside of BON. I've come to peace with possibly giving up nursing for good, and honestly I'm not sad, more just pissed. I just won't give them more power over my life. As my therapist told me today - at the end of the day it is THEIR loss for losing an incredible nurse.

Thanks for the encouragement. My biggest issue is the one size fits all. I did not divert and have yet to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder. I would be happy to do things that benefit me, but does not seem that they tailor it. I have 3 little little kids and so as much as it seems like not a huge deal, that's an enormous amount of appointments every single week and I'm not willing to forgo the next 5 years of my kid's lives to be running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I think you just solidified my decision.

Do you mind sharing with me a bit about how your contract looks? Length, stipulations? I understand they are all different, but I'm at the point of just surrendering my license. I'm happy you have had good experiences with the HAVEN staff, but they really have not been great for me -nor done a single thing to help me, just simply tell me go pee in a cup. I'm also really concerned with their turn towards my chronic health conditions and the fact that I am unfortunately in the ER and hospital frequently- it feels discriminatory. Anyways, I'm just thinking - maybe if I had any idea how a contract is laid out - the typical length, drug testing frequency, therapy meetings, etc. I could convince myself it won't be so bad.

Is there anyway I could send you a direct message? You seem very knowledgeable, I just don't want to blast all the details of my story on here

The Nurse monitoring representative for HAVEN (she is a JD) did tell me I could find my own provider to do the comprehensive evaluation and they could vet them and see if they approve. I think this is because I already sent a complaint to DPH about my concerns with financial kickbacks and ethical issues of only requiring to chose from their 2 providers deemed appropriate. Anyways, what do I even Google to find one? It's a comprehensive eval of mental, physical, substance it sounds like. Who does that and how do you find one. And is there anyway to get it covered by insurance? I'm lost and I feel like they are counting on people being overwhelmed and just giving up. On a positive note, I have been doing an IOP level program for almost 4 months now through DCF and those 3 wonderful therapists who come to my house for an hour 3 times a week have stated there is definitely not an SUD present. So I am definitely obtaining those records as well.

Yeah, I have a lot to think about. I will say that my lawyer kind of went from "I' not really sure there's much we can do, but I'll guide you" to "I think they're cocky and overpaying their hand, I think you should fight". I guess my immediate next steps are to do the comprehensive evaluation they want, but also get one of my own and see what that says, and then go from there.

Oof that one hit hard! Wild we are held to higher standards than the person running the country. And for not even a fraction of the pay! I mean, obviously patients deserve competent nurses who aren't impaired, but the way these people are twisting my medical history to deem me incompetent makes my blood boil. I just keep reminding myself, nursing is not my identity. If I need to rebuild I will, and likely be happier. One step at a time.

The only reason I'm hesitant is because then it's not private like through the alternative to discipline. I really don't relish the thought of being called and addict and also having my complex, private medical information broadcast online for anyone and everyone to hear. Side note - I would have never become a nurse if I knew it meant giving up my right to privacy and decency. If any other patient was treated this way, others would be appalled.

All these years later, can I ask if you are done with HAVEN and how it went? I'm seriously considering taking a gamble with a hearing in front of the BON because what HAVEN is trying to paint as the truth just isn't so and at least at a hearing my attorney and I could present evidence showing this.

So I did go ahead and disclose- for these logistical reasons - and they are trying to argue because it is around patients I may still need a practice liaison. I politely emailed back reiterating there is no licensure or certification required for this position and I will not be performing any nursing tasks and that I feel this is now an overreach on their part. I did make a complaint to DPH on Monday evening about their lack of transparency, fees, and questionable practices regarding referrals and received a call from the HAVEN lawyer today essentially using scare tactics on me, so I'm sure that is playing into this as well ?‍♀️.